Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and food trucks.
Smith County food-facility health permits run about $345–$773 annually, depending on size or sales volume. Plan review runs about $175–$600. Confirm the exact amount with Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) - Environmental Health / Retail Food Protection Program (serves Smith County incl. Tyler) before you budget.
Confirm the authority for your exact address. Some cities run their own health division, and building, planning, fire, sewer/grease and business-license approvals are separate even when Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) - Environmental Health / Retail Food Protection Program (serves Smith County incl. Tyler) issues the health permit.
About 483 food & drinking establishments operate here, serving a population of about 245,209. (U.S. Census 2023 estimate; County Business Patterns 2022, NAICS 722)
Locally administered by NET Health (a public health district covering Smith County / Tyler); The new risk-based schedule took effect 9-1-2025 and aligns with Texas SB 1008 (2025), which sets a statewide sales-tier fee chart used as a cap (Tier 1 $258 / Tier 2 $515 / Tier 3 $773, biennial state amounts); Nonprofit organizations meeting the district definition are exempt from the permit fee
NET Health (Tyler/Smith County) uses Texas TFER demerit scoring (100 minus demerits); reports public.
Texas SB 1008 moves mobile food unit permitting to the state DSHS effective 7/1/2026; after that date NET Health no longer issues the local mobile permit; A commissary/base of operations is required
Fees/payment and forms are on the department site; application steps vary by concept — see the checklist below.
Comparison uses the lowest published annual restaurant-permit figure in each county; confirm your exact tier with the department.
U.S. Census 2023 population; County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 722).
Plus building, fire, and business-license fees that vary locally — use the cost calculators and the checklist below to budget the full stack.
| Category | Annual fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caterer | NET Health permits a caterer as a risk-based retail food establishment (Very Low $345 to Very High $773 annual); there is no separate 'caterer' line; Confirm the assigned risk level with NET Health | Priced on the risk-based retail food schedule effective 9-1-2025 |
| Commissary / central preparation kitchen | not a separate line; a commissary is a permitted risk-based retail food establishment that serves as the base for mobile units | Fee follows the establishment's assigned risk level |
| Bakery / food processing | a retail bakery is permitted by NET Health as a risk-based retail food establishment; wholesale/manufactured-food processing is licensed by Texas DSHS (Manufactured Foods), not NET Health | Split authority: retail bakery = NET Health; wholesale food manufacturing = Texas DSHS |
| Bar / limited food service | a bar serving food is a risk-based retail food establishment (Very Low $345 to Very High $773); alcohol permitting is separate via TABC; No distinct NET Health 'bar' line | Alcohol licensing via Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission |
| Grocery / market with deli | Self-Service Market $50; a grocery/market with a deli is otherwise a risk-based retail food establishment ($345-$773 by risk) | Self-Service Market is a fixed $50 line on the NET Health schedule |
| Temporary / seasonal event | Temporary Food Vendor $52 (annual schedule line); temporary event permit $75 for the first 3 days plus $15 each additional day; Event Coordinator plan review: 1-5 vendors $25; 6-10 $75; 11+ $175 | Nonprofits meeting the district definition are exempt |
| Pushcart / mobile vending | Mobile Food Unit $258 flat (through 6-30-2026; then Texas DSHS statewide from 7-1-2026 under SB 1008); Mobile Food Establishment Plan Review $200; Food Truck Park plan review $75 (2-4 units) / $125 (5-10) / $175 (11+) | Commissary/base of operations required; local mobile permitting ends 6-30-2026 |
Health-department plan review looks for specific, code-compliant fixtures. Compare spec-filtered options, then confirm counts and sizes with your local requirements. See the full list in what equipment a commercial kitchen requires.
Permit costs and rules change at the county line — compare Smith County with its neighbors.
This is a typical sequence — confirm the exact sequence with your authority having jurisdiction.
Official plan-check requirements: plan-check guide →